Signboard



Patented Aug. 11, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GEORGE K. LEWIS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T0 MET-L-WYOOD CORPORATION,

OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION'OF ILLINOIS i Application med August 1s, 192s.. seriarn'o. 299,895.

This invention relates to sign boards.

A An object of the present invention is to provide a sectional sign board made up of composite panels, each including a plurality of layers of plywood with an outside veneer of metal, and wherein a plurality of such panels are utilized to provide a sign board of any desired area, novel means being utilized for securing the panels together and reinforcing the same, said means also serving as elements by which t-he sign boards may be anchored in position.

vA more particular object of the invention is to provide a sign board'of thecharacter indicated wherein angular members are employed on the rear faces of the sections of the sign board so as to project outwardly therefrom and secured in abutting relation,

whereby the angle members operate to connect the sections and also to maintain said sections in a common plane.

YA further obj ectof the invention is to provide a sign board made up in sections as above referred to, in connection with which stifeningvor reinforcing means of a novel character' are employed along the marginal edges of the sign board, these members being in the form'of angular members, each having a flange secured flatwise to the rear face of the sign board with a flange disposed at right angles to the main plane thereof, whereby the signboard is braced in all directions,

A still further object of the invention is to utilize in connection with the marginal reinforcing means above referred to, molding strips o n the face of the sign board along the marginal edges thereof, which strips are de'- signed for the purpose of concealing the fasteningmembers which secure the marginal reinforcements in position, and at the same time form an ornamental border for the sign board and cooperate with the marginal reinforcingvmembers in providing a very strong and substantial reinforcement for the signv panels at the rear side of the sign board so f' board throughout.

',Otherand further objects of the invention will more fully and clearly appear from the description and claims hereinafter followso ing i vresponding substantially lto the line 2 2 of Figure 1. Figure 3 isr a fragmentary horizontal sectional view of the sign construction corresponding substantially to the line 3 3 of Figure 1. Figure 4 is a fragmentary horizontal sectionall viewof the sign construction taken substantially on the line 4 4 of Figure 1. Figure 5 is a fragmentary horizontal sec- 65 tional view of the connecting means for the sections, said view corresponding substantially to the line 5 5 of Figure 1. And Figure.6 isa fragmentary horizontal sectional view, similarl to Figure 3, and showing a 70 slightly different embodiment of the reinforcing means utilized in connection with the marginal portion of the sign construction.

As shown in the drawings, the sign board may be made up of three sections, 7 8 and 9, 75 each section being in the form of a pair of connected composite panels. Each panel comprises a plurality of layers of plywood glued together, and on the opposite outer faces ofthe plywood are glued sheets of metal indicated at 11 and 12, the longitudinal and transverse edges of each panel being'finished off by providing projections 13 and 14which are overlapped and soldered in position to provide a tight joint and protect the plywood 35 from the weather. The metal surfaces of the' panel may be finished in any desired way.

In making up large signs, the largest panels available commercially are utilized, and in making up each of the sections 7, 8 and 9, 90 preferably two panels are secured together, by means such as those illustrated in Figure 4. Assuming two panels 15 and 16 laid edge to edge asshown in Figure 4, a metal strip 17 is laid across the meeting edges of the V9g;

as to straddle the crack between the ends of the panels. The strip at each side of saidV meeting edges is provided with a plurality of apertures for the reception of a row of ma rivets, each of which is provided with a head 18 bearing upon the outer face of the strip 17, and a split shank 19, the split ends of said shank being upset in opposite directions against the under-surface of the steel veneer l2 as indicated at 20. Solder is then poured into the crack at the outer surface of the joint as indicated at 21 to provide a continuously smooth surface throughout the face of the panels.

As above stated, three sections are provided, indicated by the numerals 7, 8 and 9, and each of these sections is of similar construction. The sections are secured together by means such as those shown in Figure 5. Inf connecting the sections 7 and 8, the edges of said sections are lined up, and at the inner side of each section there is provided an angle bar 22, having one flan ge 23 secured flatwise against the rear surface of the section 7 by means of split rivets 24 of the same character as the rivets 18 heretofore described. The other flange 25 of the angle member projects rearwardly at right angles to the main plane of the section. The adjacent section 8 will have an angle member 26 secured to the marginal edge thereof of the same character as the anffle member 22, the member 26 includinof a flange 27 secured to the section 8 and a Harige 28 extending at right angles thereto. The lianges 25 and 28 are secured in abutting relation by a lurality of bolt-s 29 extending through said ianges and being secured in position by nuts, as indicated at 30. The crack between the edges of the panels is filled with solder as indicated at 31. By provision of abutting angle members it will be appreciated that these serve not only -to secure the sections together, but operate to prevent shifting of the sections out of the plane in which they are secured.

The section 9 is secured to the section 8 in the same way as described above with reference to sections 7 and 8, as will be understood.

Marginal reinforcements for the sign board are provided and are best illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, the marginal reinforcements being utilized for the purpose of anchoring the completed sign board in position. The marginal reinforcements, of course, may be applied to each panel, or each section, before the Janels or sections are assembled, but practically it is desired to make the marginal reinforcements continuous throughout for the complete sign comprising the assembled sections. Along the rear marginal top, bottom, and transverse edges of the assembled seetions, are provided reinforcing elements 32,

33, and 34. The reinforcing element 32 is preferably in the form of a T bar, the stem 35 of which is disposed flatwise against the marginal edge of the sign board as best shown in Fi ire 2. The head of the T section provides a ginge 36 which bears against the top edge of the sign board, and also a flange 37 which projects rearwardly substantially at right angles to the main plane of the sign board. The stein of the T section is secured in position by a plurality of bolts 38, each having a head 89 and a threaded shank 4() for the reception of a nut 41. A suitable number of the bolts 48 will be employed spaced at suitable intervals apart, as will be understood. At the outer face of the sign board a molding strip 42 is applied, being arcuate in cross section and being provided with inturned flanges 43-43, said flanges having their inner edges spaced apart to provide a continuous slot to permit the lianges 43-43 to be inserted beneath the heads 39 of the bolts 38, this operation being performed before the nuts 41 are tightened. `When the nuts 41 are tightened they securely clamp the molding strip 42 in position, and the molding strip so clamped conceals the heads of the bolts, forms an ornamental border for the sign board, and cooperates with the T section to reinforce the sign board. The same construction employed along the top edge as described in detail, is

also applied to the lower edge of the sign, and also at the end edges, and the same reference characters will be used to designate like parts of each construction.

Referring now to Figure 6, instead of the T bar and molding construction reinforcement for the edges of the sign, there is employed an angle bar 44, having a flange 45 disposed flatwise along the marginal edge of the sign board, said flange being secured in position by upset rivets indicated at 46. The remaining liange 47 of the angle bar is disposed at right angles to the main plane of the sign. It is understood, of course, that the angle bar construction will extend along the top, bottom and end edges of the sign construction. The remaining portions of the sign will be the same as those previously described in connection with Figures 1 to 5, inelusive.

By the above described arrangements, it will be appreciated that a sign board is provided wherein the main body portion thereof is entirely sheathed with metal, Which is affixed to the wood core by glue, the end portions of the metal being turned over and soldered. In this way the wood core is protected against the weather and a smooth flat surface of greater expanse is produced. By provision of the reinforcing means described and the novel method of connecting the panels, the sign board is reinforced throughout its extent by a continuous marginal frame with transverse connecting members which also aid in preventing the sign board becoming warped and assure the provision of a continuous flat plane surface. Also due to the provision of the molding strip, the heads of the bolts are concealed, and the molding strips cooperate in reinforcing the sign board, and

provide an ornamental border therefor. The reinforcing means along the marginal edges also provide suitable structure which may be employed in anchoring the sign in position.

l/Vhile I have herein shown and described what I now consider the preferred manner of carrying out my invention,v the same is merely illustrative and I contemplate all changes and modifications that come within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim l. In a construction of the character described, the combination with a plurality of composite panels disposed edge to edge, each panel comprising a fibrous core and a metallic sheathing enclosing said core; of means for securing the meeting edges of said panels in edge to edge relation, said means being secured to said panels by split rivets, the shanks of said rivets extendin through said means and one side of the bo y portions of said panels, and the split ends of said rivets being upset against the metallic veneer on the opposite side of said panels.

2. In a sign board structure of the character described, the combination of a plurality of composite panels, each consisting of a wood core and an outer sheathing of metal enclosing said core, said sheathing being rigidly affixed to said core; of a frame made up of T members disposed along the'marginal edges of the inner surfaces of said sign board structure; bolts securing said T frame to said panels, the heads of said bolts being disposed upon the outer surface of said sign board structure; and molding strips each comprising a body portion arcuate in cross section and having inturned flanges providing a slot, said molding strips having its flanges slid beneath the heads of said bolts and secured j in position thereby.

3. In a sign board structure of the character described, the combination with a plurality of composite panels disposed edge to edge, and each including a fibrous core and an outer metallic veneer enclosing said core and rigidly aiiixed thereto; of a marginal frame disposed at the rear surface of said sign board structure and including frame members secured to the sign board structure and provided with angular members disposed substantially at right angles to the main plane of the sign board structure; bolts securing said frame member to said sign board structure; and separate molding strips disposed at the outer face of said sign board structure opposite said marginal frame, said strips being held in position by said bolts and serving to conceal the same.

4. In a sign board structure, the combination with a plurality of sections disposedy edge to edge; of a T-shaped member having its stem extending along one side of said sec-v tions and having a flange overhanging the adjacent edges of said sections and a fia-nge day of August, 1928.

projecting to one side of said sections; a molding strip extendingV alongthe side of said sections opposite to said stem, said molding strip being of hollow formation and having an opening along its inner side; and securing elements extending through the stem of the T section and having clamping members disposed within the hollow molding strip and clamping members adapted to bear upon said stem, said clamping members when tightened serving to clamp the molding strip, the margin and the stem of the T section tightly together.

5. In a sign board structure, the combination with a flat section; of a reinforcing element extending along one side of said section; a hollow molding'strip having an opening in its inner side and extending along the opposite side of said section; fastening elements extending through said section and Vhaving a clamping member dispose-d within the hollow molding and adapted to bear thereon, and aclaniping member adapted to bear upon the reinforcing element, said clamping member serving to clamp the molding strip, the section, and the reinforcing y element tightly together.

6. In a structure of the character described, including a fiat section; means for reinforcing the edge of said section comprising a rein orcing element extending along one side of said section adjacent the edge, and a hollow molding strip closed along its exterior surface and having inwardly turned spaced flanges; a securing element extending through said section and said reinforcing element, said Securing element being provided with a clamping member disposed within thehollovv molding strip and bearing upon said flanges, whereby when said securing element is tightened said section is clamped between the molding strip and reinforcing element.

In witness that I4 claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 13th GEORGE K. LEWIS. 

